Necessary Balance: Arbitrators’ Duty to Disclose in International Arbitration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35319/lawreview.202517130Keywords:
balance, party autonomy, independence and impartiality, arbitrators, duty to disclose, conflicts of interest, arbitral institutionsAbstract
This article examines the duty to disclose as a balancing device between party autonomy and the principles of independence and impartiality in international commercial arbitration. Building on the IBA Guidelines (2024) and leading institutional rules (ICC 2021, LCIA 2020, SIAC 2025), the analysis clarifies when disclosure is required, the objective standard to assess apparent bias, and the procedural role of arbitral institutions in confirmation and challenges. Selected case law —notably Halliburton v. Chubb- illustrates borderline scenarios (parallel arbitrations, law firm re- lationships, and third-party funding). The article concludes with practical recommendations to avoid hyperdisclosure while pre- serving transparency and enforceability.
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